ES2360271T3 - WEEKLY DOSER FOR MEDICINES. - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a storage device for medicaments, comprising a rectangular bottom part with 7 compartments (1) that are separated by partitions (2) and each have an independent pivotable lid (3) such that each compartment (1) can be individually accessed. Seven compartments (1) have a same-sized rectangular horizontal section within the bottom part (4) of the weekly dispenser, while at least one longitudinal side (4.2) of the bottom part (4), more specifically the access side, has a convex wall (4.3), and the top edge (2.3) of all partitions (2) has a uniform curvature having a radius R in the longitudinal direction thereof. The 7 dimensionally stable and elastic lids (3) have an adapted curvature R′ that matches said uniform curvature of the top edge (2.3) of the partitions (2). The closing parts (6) start detaching from one another when pressure is applied to the central or rear region of an arched elastic lid (3).

Description

The invention concerns a drug storage device according to the preamble of claim 1, which is suitable for pre-classifying and maintaining prepared in solid portions especially solid drug forms - adapted to the respective rhythm of the individual medically prescribed taking of the respective patient - so that the administration of the correct dose can be carried out without problems seven days a week.

Weekly dosers are a reliable auxiliary medium for all patients who regularly take medications.

The weekly dispenser is clearly organized with its seven compartments and can thus be used easily.

All parts of the weekly dispenser are made of plastic.

Document DE 199 11 995 C2 is known as a closable sorting vessel having a flat parallelepiped shape with a flat bottom face and a lid face.

For the construction of the sorting vessel, an additional element is provided that can be inserted into a cuvette-like housing and consisting of several compartments juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction. Each individual compartment has a small width (B) and a width (A) that exceeds the small width (B), and the compartments are associated with each other such that a compartment with its small width (B) is arranged next to the compartment with the width (A) that exceeds the small width (B). Finally, each compartment has a separate cover element independent of the other compartments, the cover elements being connected on the respective side of the compartments having a small width (B). Film hinges are provided to make a mobile connection of the cover elements with the additional element.

In this weekly dispenser, the unclear configuration and arrangement of the compartments and covers with the alternate opening directions is disadvantageous. In addition, the double wall construction of the lower part is disadvantageous. US 2 007 006 296 4 discloses a weekly dispenser for medicaments with all the technical characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

The problem of the invention derives from this state of the art and consists in developing a new weekly dispenser that avoids the inconveniences of the state of the art, that is to say, together with a simple and clear construction, it makes possible reliable operation.

A solution of this problem according to the invention is indicated in claim 1. Improvements of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

According to the conception of the invention, the lower part of the weekly dispenser, made rectangular in plan and kept flat, has seven compartments of the same size that are subdivided by intermediate walls and can be closed by means of separate covers with a uniform curvature. The weekly dispenser is limited by front walls on both front sides.

The upper edge of all partitions has a uniform curvature in its longitudinal extension; the radius of curvature R is preferably about 45 to 55 mm.

At least one longitudinal side of the lower part, specifically the extraction side, has a wall bent outwards, which facilitates the extraction of tablets and the like from the compartments.

The seven covers that cover and close the seven compartments are stable in shape and elastic. They have an adapted curvature R ', and the longitudinal edges of the covers that extend parallel to the partitions each cover the intermediate walls up to about half, without the covers touching in the closed state or resting on the walls intermediate.

The two front walls extend to the height and along the outer contour of the curved tops.

They have on the inner side a heel that reaches the height of the inner walls, has approximately half the thickness of the inner walls and has the same curvature.

For the fixation and immobilization of the seven movable covers, the corresponding hinge parts and closing parts have been arranged, on the one hand, on the narrow transverse edges of the covers and, on the other, on or along the two longitudinal sides of the bottom, in each case in the area of the seven compartments.

The hinge parts A located on one of the longitudinal sides of the lower part outside the compartments each consist of two spikes arranged horizontally in an imaginary line parallel to the longitudinal side of the lower part, which attack in pairs, that is, on both sides, on the intermediate walls extended to beyond the compartments in the upper part of the partitions and also attack individually on the protruding inner sides of the two front walls of the lower part.

The closing parts C located on the other longitudinal side of the lower part are made as notches made from the outside with an insert lip located above, in each case in a position centered in the upper edge area of the compartments.

The seven curved covers with the radius R 'have a rectangular cross section on the projected floor surface and have the hinge parts B and complementary closure parts D.

The hinge parts B are made up of each clamp, in a first embodiment, of two claws that are formed by the narrow side of the edge of the lid at the transverse edge of said lid. These claws are spaced approximately half the thickness of the intermediate walls with respect to the longitudinal edges of the lid and embrace with an embracing angle of more than 180 °, preferably about 200 ... 220 °, a the corresponding pins of the hinge parts A.

In extension of the claws and with the thickness of the same, a ribbed reinforcement with a constant cross section runs almost parallel to the longitudinal edge of the covers, which is almost interrupted to form the opening of the claws. The end of the ribbed reinforcement on the side of the claws forms here the inner side of the opening of the claws turned towards the lower side of the caps.

So that the covers are seated in an impermissible way on the spikes by means of the claws, the claw has, on the one hand, the diameter of the spikes and, in addition, the opening of the claws has a sector angle of approximately 140 to 160 ° . Thanks to this sector angle located below the semicircle, a certain resistance has to be overcome in the lower part by plugging the claws of the covers on the spikes.

In a second embodiment of the hinge part B the ribbed reinforcement certainly also has a constant width, but its depth widens in the area of the hinges so that the necessary formation of the claw and the opening thereof can be realized with a sector angle of approximately 140 to 160 ° for the plugging operation on the corresponding corresponding pin of the hinge part A.

When connecting the hinge part B on the hinge part A, a certain resistance similar to the first embodiment must be overcome.

The complementary closure parts D are arranged on the side of the covers facing the hinge parts

B.

These closing parts consist of an insertion core with an insertion lip provided at the end of the core and located inside, which, for example in the closing operation, slides at the bottom on the complementary insertion lip and fits in the notch.

A desired effect with the new constructive embodiment of the cover and the closing mechanism by means of the closing parts C, D is that an easy opening of the covers can be produced only by means of a certain opening process.

By applying a pressure force, for example the index finger presses approximately in the center of the bulge of the elastic cover, the cover is pressed slightly inwards. Thus, the closing part D is raised, whereby the two insertion lips begin to slide apart from each other.

In this phase, a simultaneous elevation - desired by the user - of the selected cover is easily possible on the closing side.

Therefore, the described closure construction is constituted in such a way that an involuntary opening is avoided. Only by the effect of the pressure of a finger on the desired lid is it possible that, due to the flattening of the bulging of the lid, the closing elements reach a position that allows easy lifting of the lid from the opening side.

Other details, features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the corresponding drawing.

They show:

Figure 1, a perspective representation of an embodiment of the new weekly dispenser, in which the first three caps are open;

Figure 2, different views of the lower part of the weekly dispenser, specifically Figure 2.1 a perspective view, Figure 2.2 the plan view and Figure 2.3 the side elevation;

Figure 3, three views of a cover with the first embodiment of the hinge claws, showing the figure

3.1 a perspective view, figure 3.2 the side elevation and figure 3.3 the front elevation;

Figure 4, a perspective representation of a hinge construction in the mounting state; Y

Figure 5, a general perspective view of a cover in which the hinge claws are configured according to the second embodiment.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the weekly dispenser according to the invention. The lower part 4 (see also figure 2) consisting of seven individually accessible compartments 1 has, to define the compartments 1 of equal size with rectangular plan, six intermediate walls 2.1 and two exterior front walls 2.2. The upper edge 2.3 of all partitions 2 is curved in its extension

15 longitudinal with a radius of R = 46 mm. The wall 4.3 is bent outwardly on the extraction side of the lower part 4 to facilitate the grip of tablets and the like and their removal from the respective compartment 1; see also figure 2.

The covers 3 have an adapted curvature R 'and, in the closed state, do not rest on the intermediate walls 2.1 or on the heel 2.4 of the inner side of the front walls 2.2.

20 For fixing and locking the covers 3, they are arranged, on the one hand, on the transverse edges 3.2 of the covers 3 and, on the other, on the two longitudinal sides 4.1, 4.2 of the lower part 4 (see also figure 2), in the respective zone of the seven compartments 1, the corresponding hinge parts 5 and closing parts 6.1 to 6.4.

As a complement to this, figure 2 shows the construction of the hinge parts 5.1 in the lower part 4, and figure 3 and figure 5 show the construction of the hinge and closing parts in the cover 3.

25 The pins 5.1 (hinge parts A) located outside the compartments 1 on the hinge side and longitudinal side 4.1 of the lower part 4 are arranged in pairs in the intermediate walls 2.1 extended to beyond the compartments 1 and also are arranged in a simple version on the inner side of the front walls 2.2.

The closing parts C located on the opposite longirudinal side 4.2 of the lower part 4 consist of notches 6.1

30 with an insert lip 6.2 located above (see Figure 1), which has been practiced from the outside and in a form respectively centered on the area of the upper edge of the compartments.

Figure 3 and Figure 5 show the closing parts D in the covers 3, specifically the insertion soul 6.3 and the insertion lip 6.4 in identical embodiment.

The hinge parts B are constructed differently in Figures 3 and 5.

In a first embodiment shown in Figure 3, two claws 5.2 are present on the transverse edge 3.2 of the lid 3, which are spaced from the longitudinal edges 3.1 of the lid to an extent approximately equal to half the thickness of the walls intermediate 2.1. These claws 5.2 run in prolongation of the respective ribbed reinforcement 3.3. The claws 5.2 embrace with a hugging angle of approximately 220 ° to the corresponding pins 5.1 of the hinge parts A located at the bottom 4. Through the opening

40 of claw 5.3, which is significantly smaller than the diameter of the pins 5.1, the claws 5.2 are connected in a tensioned manner on the pins 5.1 during the assembly of the covers 3 on the bottom 4.

In the second embodiment of the claws 5.2 according to figure 5 the claw 5.2 and the opening 5.3 thereof are made in the respective ribbed reinforcement 3.3 correspondingly enlarged in depth.

Figure 4 shows in the assembled state the hinge parts A and B described in relation to figure 1 to the figure

45 3.

As materials for the parts of the weekly dispenser they are used by way of example: for the lower part acrylobutanyl-styrene (ABS) and for the polycarbonate cover (PC).

List of reference symbols

1 Medication compartments, compartments 4

2

Partitions 2.1 intermediate walls 2.2 front walls 2.3 upper edge 2.4 heel on the inner side of the

front wall

3

Cover 3.1 longitudinal edges 3.2 transverse edges 3.3 rib reinforcement

5

4 Bottom 4.1 longitudinal side - hinge 4.2 longitudinal side - closure / removal 4.3 wall bent towards

outside - on the extraction side

5

Hinge parts 5.1 pins, hinge part A 5.2 claw, hinge parts B 5.3 claw opening, parts

hinge B

6

Closure parts 6.1 notch (closure parts C) 6.2 insert lip (closure parts C) 6.3 core of

10

insert (closing parts D) 6.4 insert lip (closing parts D).

Claims (9)

1. Weekly medication dispenser consisting of a rectangular bottom with seven compartments (1) which are subdivided by partitions (2) and have their own folding covers (3), so that each compartment (1) can be manipulated individually, characterized in that the seven compartments (1) of the lower part (4) of the Weekly dispensers are constructed with a rectangular plant of the same size and at least one longitudinal side (4.2) of the lower part (4), specifically the extraction side, has a wall (4.3) folded down and the upper edge (2.3) Of all the partitions (2) it has a uniform curvature with a radius R in its longitudinal extension and, in a conjugable way with it, the seven covers (3) stable in shape and elastic covering and closing the seven compartments (1) have an adapted curvature R ', wherein the longitudinal edges (3.1) of the covers (3) that extend parallel to the partitions (2) cover the intermediate walls (2.1) approximately halfway to each of them, without resting on she s in the closed state, and for fixing and immobilization of the seven covers (3) the corresponding hinge parts (5) and closing parts (6) are arranged, on the one hand, in the narrow transverse edges (3.2) of the covers (3) and, on the other, on or along the two longitudinal sides (4.1, 4.2) of the lower part (4), in each case in the area of the seven compartments (1), beginning to release the closing parts (6) of each other when exerting a force of pressure on the central or rear area of a domed elastic cover (3). 2. Weekly dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the radius of curvature R of the upper edge (2.3) of all partitions (2) is approximately 45 to 55 mm.

3.

 Weekly dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hinge parts A located outside the compartments (1) on a longitudinal side (4.1) of the lower part (4) are constituted by two respective pins (5.1) which are arranged horizontally in an imaginary line parallel to the longitudinal sides of the lower part (4) and that attack in pairs, that is, on both sides, in the intermediate walls (2.1) extended beyond the compartments (1) in the upper area of the partitions (2) and that also attack individually on the protruding inner sides of the two front walls (2.2) of the lower part (4).

Four.

 Weekly dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the closing parts C

(6) located on the other longitudinal side (4.2) of the lower part (4) are made as notches (6.1) produced from the outside with an upper insertion lip (6.2), in each case in the center of the edge area top for each compartment (1).

5.

Weekly dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the seven covers (3) curved with the radius R 'have a rectangular cross-section on the projected surface and, on the transverse edges (3.2), have the parts of hinge B (5.2, 5.3) and complementary closing parts D (6.3, 6.4).

6.

 Weekly dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hinge parts B consist of each cover (3) in two claws (5.2) that are formed on the transverse edge (3.2) by the narrow side of the edge of the lid , these claws (5.2) being distanced from the longitudinal edges (3.1) of the lid

(3) to an extent approximately equal to half the thickness of the intermediate walls (2.1) and hugging the corresponding pins (5.1) of the hinge parts A with an embracing angle of approximately 200 to 220 °. 7. Weekly dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in extension of the claws (5.2) and with the thickness of these, it is provided on the lower side and parallel to the longitudinal edges (3.1) of the covers (3) a ribbed reinforcement (3.3) with constant cross-section that is interrupted to form the claw opening (5.3), the claw side end of the ribbed reinforcement (3.3) forming the inner side of the opening of claw (5.3) turned towards the bottom side of the lid. 8. Weekly dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 5 and 7, characterized in that the ribbed reinforcement (3.3) of the hinge part B also has a constant width, but its depth widens in the area of the hinge so that the necessary formation of the claw (5.2) and the opening (5.3) thereof can be carried out with a sector angle of approximately 140 to 160 ° to plug the claw on the corresponding corresponding pin (5.1) of the hinge part A. 9. Weekly dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the complementary closing parts D, which are arranged on the side of the covers (3) opposite to the hinge parts B, consist of an insertion core (6.3 ) with an insertion lip (6.4) provided at the end of the soul and internally located.